First U.S. warship arrives in Vietnam since war ended

First U.S. warship arrives in Vietnam since war ended

(EXCERPT)

Richard Vogel / AP Vietnamese immigration officials watch as a U.S.
Navy ship Vandergrift sails into the Saigon's port.

ASSOCIATED PRESS HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 19 — An American
guided missile frigate sailed into Ho Chi Minh City flying the U.S.
and Vietnamese flags Wednesday, becoming the first U.S. warship to
dock in the communist country since the Vietnam War.

The USS Vandegrift's four-day port call comes as the United States and
Vietnam strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. American commanders
attended a ceremony honoring Vietnamese Communist leader Ho Chi Minh,
the namesake of this city once known as Saigon. ''I think one of the
messages here today is that the... U.S. and Vietnam are showing the
world that former foes can become friends,'' U.S. Ambassador Raymond
Burghardt said. The United States and Vietnamese militaries have been
moving closer together on such areas as counterterrorism, Burghardt
said. The United States is not looking to re-establish a permanent
military presence in Vietnam but wants to have access to friendly
nations' ports, he sa...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com